Help! Day 31 Single Muscovy Pipped Internally

[jofanx]

One of my 4 (viable) muscovy eggs pipped internally today (day 31--I went back to doublecheck my calendar because I thought it was too soon) but the other 3 are not near that phase yet--there's still albumen visible in their eggs when I candle. I was going to lockdown tomorrow but now I don't know whether or not I should do it today. Any tips?

Also, the general humidity where I am is 40-60% on any given day (I live near the ocean) and if I add water to the bator, it brings it up to 90+% (I have 2 separate hydrometers) which seems a bit high, so I've been making sure it stays around 50-60%. How high should the humidity be during hatch?

 

[BYCforlife]

@TheKindaFarmGal can save the day!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

At 4 days from hatch, I don't think you are going to hurt the others by accommodating for the one. Ducks are a little different than chickens as far as humidity goes. Google says 86%, then 94%.
It's funny that one egg is that far ahead of the others, where did you get them?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

You can start lockdown now. It shouldn't make a difference.

For lockdown, I like humidity to be around 65%. So if you add just a little bit of water, you should be fine. You don't want it to get higher than 75%! If it does get higher, remove the vent plug and try to get some water out. If condensation gathers on the lid or sides, wipe it off with a rag. Too high humidity can drown them.

Hope your hatch goes well! Please update and post pics when they hatch!

 

[jofanx]

Thanks everyone! I will definitely update and post pictures when (if) they come out. It's my first time hatching eggs. 75% is very easy for me to maintain where I am so that's not a problem! I'm going to lock them down as per everyone's recommendation.

Day 31 is crazy early in terms of this too, but I just got home, checked on the other eggs, and another one just drew down the air cell (I've been gone only 5 hours!) So I don't know if it's just this batch...

They're eggs from my own muscovies. I just thought I'd try my hand at it since I had an incubator on hand.

Fingers crossed!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Awesome! Hope all goes well!

 

[jofanx]

I'm just paranoid. I stopped myself from checking them after I locked them down but this suspense is killing me.

I managed to get a picture of the internal pip before I just went hands off and decided to completely ignore them for the rest of the time--I could never get the beak when it's at the maximum poking into the air cell so I gave up.

I can easily see the hydrometer/thermometer and it's holding steady at 60%-70% (fluctuates through a day a bit but always around there.)

Argh. All this paranoia. I would hate for something to happen this close to hatch. At what point would you consider helping?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Everything looks fine; it's too early to assist. Don't worry about it yet. Each case is different when helping a chick/duckling hatch...it's hard to say when exactly. Go by your gut, but give them time.

 

[jofanx]

HELP IT EXTERNALLY PIPPED, BUT NOT IN THE AIR CELL. It pipped slightly underneath the line of the air cell. Is that still okay?!?!?

 

[jofanx]

Also, none of the other eggs are showing any signs of movement, even the one that had drawn it's air cell down. Think they're duds? It's day 33 right now.